Alcon reports 12.1% increase in sales

Alcon has announced its revenue and earnings figures for the 2006 financial year. The company reported a 12.1 per cent increase in global sales to $4,896.6 million (2,487.7 million pounds).

Net earnings rose 44.8 per cent during 2006 to $1,348.1 million, equivalent to $4.37 diluted earnings per share. The company also published its guidance for 2007, expecting sales of between $5,350 and $5,450, with diluted earnings per share from $5.10-$5.20.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, surgical sales rose by 11.3 per cent to $582.5 million, while consumer eye-care sales rose by 22.3 per cent to $166.5 million, with the company reporting strong growth in the sale of Systane lubricant eye drops.

Cary Rayment, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Alcon, said: “I am extremely pleased at how well our entire organisation executed our strategic and operating plans in 2006.”

He added that the company experienced more rapid growth than the eye-care market overall, confirming the firm’s focus on this sector internationally. The company added that it was continuing to build demand for its products in new markets, including China, India and Russia.

In May 2006, Alcon approved a dividend of $1.36 per share to be paid that month and elected Paul Polman and Joe Weller to the board of directors.